Venus en Mars betrapt door Vulcanus 1710 - 1714

"Venus en Mars betrapt door Vulcanus" (Venus and Mars caught by Vulcan), an etching created by Jakob Wilhelm Heckenauer between 1710 and 1714, depicts the Roman god Vulcan discovering his wife Venus in bed with the god of war, Mars. The scene is based on the myth of Vulcan, who, after being told by the sun god Helios about his wife’s infidelity, forged a net of invisible chains and captured Venus and Mars, exposing them to the gods on Mount Olympus. The etching, which is currently housed at the Rijksmuseum, masterfully captures the shock, shame, and rage of the moment through dramatic poses and detailed expressions. Heckenauer’s skillful use of light and shadow further accentuates the emotionality of the scene, providing viewers with a compelling interpretation of this classic mythological tale.